A further brief addendum to Update, 7-21-19 and News, 7-19-21, this one from same friend:

* . . . this certs petition will be very telling. The decision will probably be delayed as it will be very difficult to avoid taking the case without SCOTUS losing credibility. All the justices know that the story is just so simplistic and childish and they are on the spot and you can bet that the CIA and others will be all over them. . . . What a country we have become